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Commissioners Meeting

minutes meeting date 2026-08-24 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 8160 characters · read by OCR, check numbers against the source · official file · plain text

Monday, August 24, 2026
Page 1 of 5
JEROME COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Monday, August 24, 2026
PRESENT: Ben Crouch, Chairman
Charles Howell, Vice Chairman
Art Watkins, Commissioner
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
Meeting convened at 9:05 am.
Commissioner Reports
Staff present: Cy Lootens
Commissioner Watkins – Commissioner Watkins reported that he attended the rotary meeting.
There was a conversation there about the annual fund raiser event. He attended the South Central
Public Health meeting. Then he went to the Business Plus event. He received a call from a
constituent later in the week regarding a concern about a planning and zoning item.
Commissioner Howell – Commissioner Howell reported that he attended the Business Plus
event. He really felt like the presentations during the event were excellent. Then he reached out
to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding some issues brought forward by the Snake
River Canyon Parks board. He attended the funeral for Denise Gill who was the Gooding County
Clerk.
Commissioner Crouch – Commissioner Crouch reported that he attended the rotary meeting.
Then he went to Prescott & Craig to talk to Bryan Craig regarding insurance info for the county.
He also attended an Ag viability dinner event. Later he attended a meeting with the security
committee and discussed an employee barbecue.
Fire Extinguisher Presentation, Active Shooter Training with City of Jerome
Staff present: Eric Jackson and Cy Lootens
Eric stated that he is wanting to give some updates. The new fire safety windows should be here
in September. The door near the elevator is having issues with the button for handicap
accessibility. He has been talking with IT to see if there can be something installed to close all of
the doors to the outside of the building and have them locked. He is going to have a training in
the next month to teach about fire extinguishers and how to use them. The materials for the
training are going to be covered by the fire district.
Then he discussed having an active shooter training. He is looking to have the City of Jerome
come in to do the presentation. He is wanting to see if there could be something to discuss the
shooting at In and Out in Twin Falls and the lessons that were learned from it.
County Liability
Staff present: Cy Lootens
Public present: Bryan Craig, Bill Bridges, and Jami Strunk

Monday, August 24, 2026
Page 2 of 5
Bryan wanted to come and discuss the county liability insurance. The Board wanted to discuss
the Snake River Canyon Parks board and the potential of insurance for the park board. Bryan
stated that with this project that there needs to be a different liability insurance as the park board
is a separate entity. The park is not quite the same as the fair which is run under county funds to
where it is still part of the same policy. With the park board being its own entity there would
need to be a different insurance policy to cover liability for their sites. He also discussed that
there could be liability issues in the future when the gun range is put into place. He stated that
overall with the board not being more in charge of the park and its sites that the park board will
need to get their own insurance. The Board asked what would be needed to be able to create a
quote of the insurance cost for the park board. Bryan stated that he would need to meet with
someone from the park board and discuss the totality of the sites to be used towards creating a
quote for liability insurance.
Juvenile Probation Monthly Report
Staff present: Mario Umana
Mario gave a report on the juvenile probation department. He stated that there are currently 84
juveniles on probation. There were a total of 8 new cases received during the previous month. A
total of 12 cases were closed. The department received a total of $1,212.00 in fees during the
previous month. He stated that there is a conference that is coming up during September. He is
looking to have several employees attend. There is a training that will be coming that he is
looking to send two officers to. He is looking to see if the Board would approve the expenses
with the offices attending the conference and training.
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the expenditure of $1,379 for the
annual conference in Nampa, and the expense of $624 for the leadership
conference in October. Seconded by Commissioner Watkins. The motion passed
with a unanimous vote.
Indigent Matters
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the indigent claim as presented.
Seconded by Commissioner Watkins. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Sign and Approve Claims
Commissioner Watkins moved to approve the claims as presented by staff.
Seconded by Commissioner Howell. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
To see an image of the report please see page 5 of the minutes.

Monday, August 24, 2026
Page 3 of 5
Computer Arts Contract Approval
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the contract with computer arts for the
next year in the amounts of $19,750 and $4,100. Seconded by Commissioner
Howell. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Misdemeanor Probation Monthly Report
Staff present: Andrea Gonzalez
Andrea gave a report on the misdemeanor probation department. During the previous two
months there were a total of 68 new cases received. A total of 54 cases were closed. Her
department received a total of $39,367.43 in fees. She reported that the renovations at the office
are underway and are looking good. The Board wanted to thank Andrea for answering calls after
hours while she was on leave.
Employee Paid Time Off Payout Requests
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the PTO payouts as presented.
Seconded by Commissioner Watkins. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Meeting recessed at 11:31 am.
Meeting reconvened at 1:15 pm.
Equipment Fund Request from Ambulance District
Staff present: Cy Lootens
Public present: Chris Shandera
Chris stated that he is part of the Magic Valley Paramedics. He is here to discuss some of the
costs that they are facing. One is regarding replacing the cardiac monitors. They are looking to
replace 2 monitors and are looking to have the county support the costs in the amount of $9,000.
Commissioner Howell moved to approve the donation, under the ambulance
district budget, in the amount of $9,000 to the St Lukes Health system. Seconded
by Commissioner Watkins. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Meeting adjourned at 1:26 pm.

Monday, August 24, 2026
Page 4 of 5
________________________
______________________________
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
A. Ben Crouch, Chairman
______________________________
Charles M. Howell, Commissioner
______________________________
Art Watkins, Commissioner

XTENSION AGENT
ATA PROCESSING $5,881.50
LECTIONS |

CHARITY 2,900.00

5,174.78

GENERAL

3 6,426.48 | $ 6,426.48

$ 1,330.50 1,330.50
UBLIC DEFENDERS 3

248.00

LECTION CONSOLIDATION
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$ 1,203.42 | $ 1,203.42

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39|BROADBAND GRANT FUNDS
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$ 551,697.42 | $ 551,691.42
$ 576,967.62 |$ 576,967.62

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